midds

Hughes is developing into a very good manager. Astute signings, talks sense and he's taking his club forward. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he took over at Man Utd when Fergie calls it a day.

i doubt jussi would come as a back up Concurred, but Harper has been happy to sit on the bench for 7 years. Rather Jussi than harper tbh. He'd provide competition at least...

No beef with Europe at all. Just not keen on people assuming the world revolves around Europe and everyone else should change what they do to accommodate Europeans. Expecting the world to fit in with what Europe does is arrogant though tbh. The reasons for holding the ACN in Jan/Feb have already been mentioned. The sport doesn't belong to England, Britain or Europe - Africa have the right to hold their tournament whenever the f*** they like. If this ruffles a few feathers then yes, 'tough s***'. I just hope you are just as outraged when the likes of Given, Owen, Viduka, Emre, Milner and Taylor are called upon to represent their countries. Cos that's totally different isn't it? Well, it is actually. We make time in our own league to accomodate the internationals... Also, the world/european cups aren't in season time, but if they were, I would be very pissed off if I saw the players mentioned fucking off to play in some cup. With all due respect, you're missing the point. the Internationals? Fucking hell! International matches involving African countries aren't as important? It was well known when the ACN was taking place for years and years. People are only twisting and fretting because they haven't been intelligent enough to have a squad to deal with it. Africa has the right to choose when to hold the ACN. Full stop.

Harper out. Jussi in. Baffles me how anyone could possibly rate Harper above Jussi or Given.

Can I just point out a glaring mistake with this comment? In the Southern Hemisphere June and July are winter months. If it's hot in parts of Africa during these months, then it is even hotter in January! These comments emphasise my point about playing all tournaments in the same month tbh.

No beef with Europe at all. Just not keen on people assuming the world revolves around Europe and everyone else should change what they do to accommodate Europeans. Expecting the world to fit in with what Europe does is arrogant though tbh. The reasons for holding the ACN in Jan/Feb have already been mentioned. The sport doesn't belong to England, Britain or Europe - Africa have the right to hold their tournament whenever the fuck they like. If this ruffles a few feathers then yes, 'tough shit'. I just hope you are just as outraged when the likes of Given, Owen, Viduka, Emre, Milner and Taylor are called upon to represent their countries. Cos that's totally different isn't it?

Because the ACN is slap bang in the middle of the domestic season for most of these players perhaps? So that means he doesn't deserve to have adequate time to get his squad sorted? He has to wait until the thing starts before calling his squad together, purely to appease European football fans? Seems a little arrogant, no? Absolutely, but the fact of the matter is that the European leagues are much more important than the ACN, if they wanted preparation time then they should hold it the same time as the European Championships. So Africa should arrange their own Continental Championships to fit in with the European domestic leagues? For the sake of convenience; Yes - why can't they? The tournament has no need to be in a specific place, does it? Why not make it easier for everyone involved and situate it during the off season? For the sake of the tournament; Yes - players will all have no excuse but to attend, and all teams will have enough preperation time without DISRUPTING european leagues. Because the ACN is slap bang in the middle of the domestic season for most of these players perhaps? So that means he doesn't deserve to have adequate time to get his squad sorted? He has to wait until the thing starts before calling his squad together, purely to appease European football fans? Seems a little arrogant, no? Your arrogance point goes both ways...Is it not arrogant of Vogts to demand the players from the teams they play for with no hint of apology? No suggestion from ANC that it might be willing to find a solution to the problem posed? Sorry Jim, I think whining about losing African players so they can go off and represent their countries is ridiculous. If the African Football Federation choose to hold their Championships in Jan/Feb then they have every right to do so. Saying it should be held at the same time as the European Championships just to fit in with us is absurd. Do you realise how hot parts of Africa get during June and July? Still, never mind eh? As long as we're ok, eh? Are you saying that European national teams are more important than African ones? That European countries deserve adequate preparation time prior to Continental Championships but African national teams don't? It wouldnt be a problem if the majority of leagues in which african players play had their off season in jan, but that is not the case. Many of the first teamers for african countries play in the first teams for european domestic teams. Now, to suggest that one is more important than the other is another debate entirely, but I cannot see how the problem is going to be resolved if neither the europeans or the africans are willing to negotiate. The fact is; neither continent are completely satisfied, and I doubt either ever will be when it comes to the ACN. Looking at it from the african perspective, I can see no issue other than the heat of july stopping it being moved. It's not a matter of perceived 'importance' of either side, but simple convenience. I refer you to the post above this one. Jan/Feb is the best time to hold the tournament and if this is not convenient with some European clubs then 'tough shit'. Football exists outside of Europe and it's ridiculously arrogant to assume that the rest of the planet should arrange their own Continental competitions to fit in with Europe. If you think differently then that's up to you.

European clubs and countries simply are more important than African ones, they have the best teams and importantly a lot more money. Yes parts of Africa do get hot in the summer but we've had World Cups in searing heat and we accept it, the WC will be in Africa in July 2010 and players will have to deal with it. There's no reason they can't have it in the summer which would suit them better as they would have more time with their players and would also suit European clubs better who ultimately have the money and the power. It can reach something like 50 degrees in countries like Libya in summer (being June/July), so you want them to never have the opportunity to host the tournament to suit the European football schedule better? The 2010 World Cup is in South Africa, which is the southern hemisphere, so June/July is in the middle of the winter, so that's a non-argument. And surely if "it would suit them better", they would've done it. And surely CAF would want the best players playing in the cup, so they don't really care what European clubs think. The bottom line is - managers know when they sign African players that they will be potentially unavailable for the duration of the African Nations Cup and should cater for it. Exactly. Would these tarts be so quick to have a pop if it was the manager of Brazil or Argentina wanting time to prepare their squads? Thought not.

European clubs and countries simply are more important than African ones, they have the best teams and importantly a lot more money. Yes parts of Africa do get hot in the summer but we've had World Cups in searing heat and we accept it, the WC will be in Africa in July 2010 and players will have to deal with it. There's no reason they can't have it in the summer which would suit them better as they would have more time with their players and would also suit European clubs better who ultimately have the money and the power. If that's the way you look at things then that's up to you. Money = importance = power. I'll look at it differently if you don't mind.

Yeah! Right on! So when N'Zogbia gets called up to play for France, we should stop him. We pay his wages afterall, he shouldn't be allowed to play for his country! Fuck him!

Because the ACN is slap bang in the middle of the domestic season for most of these players perhaps? So that means he doesn't deserve to have adequate time to get his squad sorted? He has to wait until the thing starts before calling his squad together, purely to appease European football fans? Seems a little arrogant, no? Absolutely, but the fact of the matter is that the European leagues are much more important than the ACN, if they wanted preparation time then they should hold it the same time as the European Championships. So Africa should arrange their own Continental Championships to fit in with the European domestic leagues? For the sake of convenience; Yes - why can't they? The tournament has no need to be in a specific place, does it? Why not make it easier for everyone involved and situate it during the off season? For the sake of the tournament; Yes - players will all have no excuse but to attend, and all teams will have enough preperation time without DISRUPTING european leagues. Because the ACN is slap bang in the middle of the domestic season for most of these players perhaps? So that means he doesn't deserve to have adequate time to get his squad sorted? He has to wait until the thing starts before calling his squad together, purely to appease European football fans? Seems a little arrogant, no? Your arrogance point goes both ways...Is it not arrogant of Vogts to demand the players from the teams they play for with no hint of apology? No suggestion from ANC that it might be willing to find a solution to the problem posed? Sorry Jim, I think whining about losing African players so they can go off and represent their countries is ridiculous. If the African Football Federation choose to hold their Championships in Jan/Feb then they have every right to do so. Saying it should be held at the same time as the European Championships just to fit in with us is absurd. Do you realise how hot parts of Africa get during June and July? Still, never mind eh? As long as we're ok, eh? Are you saying that European national teams are more important than African ones? That European countries deserve adequate preparation time prior to Continental Championships but African national teams don't?

why? Do you think he deserves to play?

Because the ACN is slap bang in the middle of the domestic season for most of these players perhaps? So that means he doesn't deserve to have adequate time to get his squad sorted? He has to wait until the thing starts before calling his squad together, purely to appease European football fans? Seems a little arrogant, no? Absolutely, but the fact of the matter is that the European leagues are much more important than the ACN, if they wanted preparation time then they should hold it the same time as the European Championships. So Africa should arrange their own Continental Championships to fit in with the European domestic leagues?

Because they dont occur during a regular season and the teams that have paid for these players and pay to keep them don't lose out. Paid for these players! Fucking hell! I'm fairly sure the managers who signed these players realise that the ACN occur during the European regular season. You can't suddenly throw your arms up in despair and throw a hissy fit when they're asked to represent their countries in the ACN! Dear me!

Because the ACN is slap bang in the middle of the domestic season for most of these players perhaps? So that means he doesn't deserve to have adequate time to get his squad sorted? He has to wait until the thing starts before calling his squad together, purely to appease European football fans? Seems a little arrogant, no?

Can't see the problem with what he's saying tbh. Why he shouldn't he want his players together before it all kicks off? Happens before every European Championships and World Cup, why not with the ACN?

If Beckham plays it'll be an absolute disgrace. >

Me too...

That implies that someone is willing to buy him. That's your problem right there.

Fuck me...

Will it be better if I limit ball boys and mascots to top flight only? Would be better if you fucking binned it tbph.

Use fresh local produce don't over do the sauces let the the simple clean ingredients speak for themselves. Exactly.

Been a mascot = 1pt Seen a European Cup Final = 1 pt DOG. SHIT. THREAD.

I'd go along with that Parky. It's almost like he's trying TOO hard to come up with something special for each game that will counter the opposition. I think he realises that he's basically on trial and he has to prove his worth as a tactician and has, as you mention, micro-managed things so much that the focus has shifted to coping with the opposition rather than attacking them. I just hope he realises that in trying to be too cute, he's actually hindering his chances of winning the game each week.

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